DIY Cable? - Local Channels

[Rekon]

I cut my cable about a year ago and I use to still get the local channels up until a month ago.  Recently the local channels went digital and I don't get them anymore.  Time Warner requires service and a digital box lease in order to get those channels. 

Has anyone figured out a hack on how to get at least the local channels for news, live sports, etc.? 

[SingleMomDebt]

Haha. You too huh? They took back 76, 77, 78, 30.1. Then they took back 4.3 7.2 9.1 and 11.1. And they have not come back. Just ordered an antenna for $50. Not giving in to pay tw $20/m.

[Daley]

Has anyone figured out a hack on how to get at least the local channels for news, live sports, etc.?

Use an antenna. If you want cable reception, you need to pay for it as per 47 USC §553.

[Hugerat]

Yep, get a Mohu antenna. Reception is great and it takes up almost no space. It can even be taped to the back of your TV.

[hodedofome]

Some cable companies still freely broadcast QAM channels. I switched to a regional cable company in my area that does. Some markets only have 1 choice unfortunately.

[OSUBearCub]

I shared/asked the same thing a few days ago.  I.P. Daley went into a little more detail on the legal aspects.  (Told you I wasn't the only one. Ha ha.)

http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/success-cutting-cable!/

I linked to a cheap antenna that got me 49 local, digital channels.  Depending on your location, you should be able to get the major networks and PBS at a minimum.

[themagicman]

If the antena doesn't work for you, because of being too far out then you can try the cable/internet package we have.

We have a package through comcast (I believe At&T has a similar package) It comes with 25mbps internet, all of the local cable channels (about 30) and all of the HBO channels. We only pay $40 a month for this which I thought was a great deal, as some people pay this much for just internet. No contract either!

[The Architect]

If the antena doesn't work for you, because of being too far out then you can try the cable/internet package we have.

We have a package through comcast (I believe At&T has a similar package) It comes with 25mbps internet, all of the local cable channels (about 30) and all of the HBO channels. We only pay $40 a month for this which I thought was a great deal, as some people pay this much for just internet. No contract either!

What package is that? Can you link it?

Comcast may have varied regional prices, so that might not be country-wide. I think I used to pay more for cable than my inlaws who live 30 miles north, despite having fewer channels, simply because I'm out of the OTA reception area.

Interesting fact: Broadcast Network television sometimes charges cable companies to provide their channels. Around here it's something like $1-3/channel/person.

[themagicman]

If the antena doesn't work for you, because of being too far out then you can try the cable/internet package we have.

We have a package through comcast (I believe At&T has a similar package) It comes with 25mbps internet, all of the local cable channels (about 30) and all of the HBO channels. We only pay $40 a month for this which I thought was a great deal, as some people pay this much for just internet. No contract either!

What package is that? Can you link it?

Comcast may have varied regional prices, so that might not be country-wide. I think I used to pay more for cable than my inlaws who live 30 miles north, despite having fewer channels, simply because I'm out of the OTA reception area.

Interesting fact: Broadcast Network television sometimes charges cable companies to provide their channels. Around here it's something like $1-3/channel/person.

http://www.comcast.com/Corporate/shop/productoverview.html

Click more double play offers. It might not be nationwide but I tried a few different zips in different areas and it worked. Worth looking into! Its called internet plus!

[The Architect]

http://www.comcast.com/Corporate/shop/productoverview.html

Click more double play offers. It might not be nationwide but I tried a few different zips in different areas and it worked. Worth looking into! Its called internet plus!

Yep... It's $70 here.

[themagicman]

Yep... It's $70 here.

Check out AT&T! They have the same offer. Maybe they do it in your area!

[The Architect]

Yep... It's $70 here.

Check out AT&T! They have the same offer. Maybe they do it in your area!

We actually only have Comcast available. I could try to get satellite, but the big C owns the box with the wires that supplies our development. Too bad, since there is a city-owned cable company that can't come in that would be cheaper for TV (though we're using Comcast for internet & home phone right now, and do a pay-as-you-go cell plan for $6/mo instead of something more costly).

[forummm]

Shockingly, when one cable provider has a monopoly for a particular neighborhood, their prices are substantially higher. Who knew? I was talking with a friend about Internet access. We both have Comcast, and he lives 7 miles away. I have AT&T available, but he doesn't. I pay $20, he pays $50.

[The Architect]

Shockingly, when one cable provider has a monopoly for a particular neighborhood, their prices are substantially higher. Who knew? I was talking with a friend about Internet access. We both have Comcast, and he lives 7 miles away. I have AT&T available, but he doesn't. I pay $20, he pays $50.

Totally forgot - our solution right now is to use the internet to watch whatever we want via. network apps. We don't get news, local stuff, or sports, but all the major shows (and a load of old ones) are available on-demand a week after they air (or the next day for NBC).

[FrugalSpendthrift]

If your TV is older and doesn't have an ATSC tuner, then you will need a digital TV converter along with an antenna to get the 'new' digital channels.  All TV's built within the last 7 or 8 years were required to have this tuner built in.

If you are curious what channels are available in your area and which way to point your antenna, check out www.antennaweb.org

[TheThirstyStag]

Another vote for trying an antenna.  Check out tvfool.com to get a good idea of what type of antenna you need in order to get whichever stations are broadcasting in range.  With any luck, all you'll need is a mohu leaf and you'll be good to go.  I live in a hilly area and had to build my own grey-hoverman antenna.  If you're a DIYer, a project like this or a DB4/DB8 can be really fun.

I am also a proponent of home theater pcs.  I have my antenna fed to my bedroom TV and living room HTPC, which functions as a DVR (among other things).  I haven't looked back. 

It's also funny how antennas are so far out of the mainstream that some people think it's stealing TV!

[SingleMomDebt]

Haha. You too huh? They took back 76, 77, 78, 30.1. Then they took back 4.3 7.2 9.1 and 11.1. And they have not come back. Just ordered an antenna for $50. Not giving in to pay tw $20/m.

The antenna did not work for me. :/ I received lots of the Spanish and Asian channels, but getting the main sub channels I was missing is a no go. Returned. I guess until I decide to order the digital box @ $20/month, then I'm stuck with me my newsy channels 2.1, 4.1, 5.1, 7.1, 11.1 and that's that. I do miss my 13.1. Now I can't watch all the reruns of Big Bang theory after work. hmph.

[The Architect]

Haha. You too huh? They took back 76, 77, 78, 30.1. Then they took back 4.3 7.2 9.1 and 11.1. And they have not come back. Just ordered an antenna for $50. Not giving in to pay tw $20/m.

The antenna did not work for me. :/ I received lots of the Spanish and Asian channels, but getting the main sub channels I was missing is a no go. Returned. I guess until I decide to order the digital box @ $20/month, then I'm stuck with me my newsy channels 2.1, 4.1, 5.1, 7.1, 11.1 and that's that. I do miss my 13.1. Now I can't watch all the reruns of Big Bang theory after work. hmph.

If you have internet and an internet-connected device, you may be able to watch major networks' programming either on their website or on their apps. No local stuff, but no paying for network content either. Sometimes there's a delay for when you get the show (a week or so), but that's not a big deal once you've gotten started.

[TheThirstyStag]

Haha. You too huh? They took back 76, 77, 78, 30.1. Then they took back 4.3 7.2 9.1 and 11.1. And they have not come back. Just ordered an antenna for $50. Not giving in to pay tw $20/m.

The antenna did not work for me. :/ I received lots of the Spanish and Asian channels, but getting the main sub channels I was missing is a no go. Returned. I guess until I decide to order the digital box @ $20/month, then I'm stuck with me my newsy channels 2.1, 4.1, 5.1, 7.1, 11.1 and that's that. I do miss my 13.1. Now I can't watch all the reruns of Big Bang theory after work. hmph.

What kind of antenna did you use?  Was it directional, or omnidirectional?  Where did you mount it?  I think with a little persistence you can achieve great results. 

[Rekon]

Hey so I took your guys advise and bought an antenna (ANT704F). But for some reason every time I do a channel search it can't find anything.  I live less than 10 miles from the towers.  My TV is relatively new - I bought it in 2012.   Am I doing something wrong? 

[TheThirstyStag]

Hey so I took your guys advise and bought an antenna (ANT704F). But for some reason every time I do a channel search it can't find anything.  I live less than 10 miles from the towers.  My TV is relatively new - I bought it in 2012.   Am I doing something wrong?

Is this an indoor intenna?  Where do you have it mounted?  I can't find that model number anywhere. 

Is there a hill in the way of your path to the tower?  Can you place the antenna upstairs?

Give us some more info on what kind of antenna you have and where you have it mounted. 

[Spork]

Hey so I took your guys advise and bought an antenna (ANT704F). But for some reason every time I do a channel search it can't find anything.  I live less than 10 miles from the towers.  My TV is relatively new - I bought it in 2012.   Am I doing something wrong?

Is this an indoor intenna?  Where do you have it mounted?  I can't find that model number anywhere. 

Is there a hill in the way of your path to the tower?  Can you place the antenna upstairs?

Give us some more info on what kind of antenna you have and where you have it mounted.

Yeah, it sounds like more data is needed. 

Also... are you sure it is hooked up correctly?  Some TVs will have separate inputs for CATV vs Antenna... and some will have a single input with an internal setting for Cable/Antenna.

If it's powered... make sure your power injector is installed and the "ant" vs "tv" ports are hooked up correctly.

I'd be surprised if you got zero channels... something is amiss. 

I'd be surprised by

[MikeBear]

Hey so I took your guys advise and bought an antenna (ANT704F). But for some reason every time I do a channel search it can't find anything.  I live less than 10 miles from the towers.  My TV is relatively new - I bought it in 2012.   Am I doing something wrong?

Make SURE your tv is set to scan for "DTV" channels. If it's only scanning for say cable channels, it won't pick anything up. Normally, a tv set that new will scan the whole spectrum of digital, analog, and cable in turn. But, maybe there's certain ones that don't unless you specifically choose that spectrum to scan.

You did hook the antenna wires to your tv sets antenna input... didn't you?

[Heckler]

Buy a cable box?!
Buy a HTPC!?
Buy an antenna?,!!?



You all fail at MMM


Build a HD antenna.  That is the face punch free solution!


http://www.tvantennaplans.com

http://www.instructables.com/id/Powerful-Modern-Homemade-HDTV-Antenna/

http://youtu.be/P69KuHum7wQ

[OSUBearCub]

Buy a cable box?!
Buy a HTPC!?
Buy an antenna?,!!?



You all fail at MMM


Build a HD antenna.  That is the face punch free solution!


http://www.tvantennaplans.com

http://www.instructables.com/id/Powerful-Modern-Homemade-HDTV-Antenna/

http://youtu.be/P69KuHum7wQ

Would you mind adding up the cost of materials for us?  I'm seeing copper pipe, solder (and I presume you bought a soldering iron at some point), copper wire, 6-7 pieces of Radio Shack-ery, screws, and boards.  If that came in for under $15 (the cost of my antenna) I'll eat my shoe.  :-)

[Heckler]

These aren't mine (no TV for me), but a friend made one from wire, screws and wood he had kicking around. 

http://apeweek.hubpages.com/hub/make-this-powerful-hdtv-antenna-out-of-cardboard

This one looks pretty cheap. 

[MikeBear]

Buy a cable box?!
Buy a HTPC!?
Buy an antenna?,!!?



You all fail at MMM


Build a HD antenna.  That is the face punch free solution!


http://www.tvantennaplans.com

http://www.instructables.com/id/Powerful-Modern-Homemade-HDTV-Antenna/

http://youtu.be/P69KuHum7wQ

Would you mind adding up the cost of materials for us?  I'm seeing copper pipe, solder (and I presume you bought a soldering iron at some point), copper wire, 6-7 pieces of Radio Shack-ery, screws, and boards.  If that came in for under $15 (the cost of my antenna) I'll eat my shoe.  :-)

Those 3 baluns are at least $2.49 each, and what looks like a 4 way combiner/splitter is probably around $4.95. That doesn't factor in the equal-length coax jumpers, or anything else. There's so much db signal loss in that design, I'd bet a bent paperclip shoved into the center antenna jack of the tv set would most likely work almost as well.